Abstract: The present invention utilizes a file locking emulator between an application program and an operating system. The file locking emulator comprises an application program interface and a file lock supervisor. The file locking emulator receives the file locking requests from the application program and generates file requests and file lock query commands. When the application program interface receives a file request it first checks the files lock status and then either returns an error for incompatible file requests or executes the compatible lock request along with any other compatible operation request such as a read, write or truncate file operation. Only code in the file request emulator needs to be rewritten when an application program is ported to different operating systems sharing incompatible but executable processes. In this manner tested code of the application program does not have to be rewritten.

Abstract: An improved system and method of electronic check processing at an existing point-of-sale system. The system utilized to implement the present invention includes at least one point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a verification system, and an electronic settlement network. The POS terminal includes a printer, MICR scanner, and optical scanner. When a customer presents a check to pay for a transaction at the POS, the checker runs the check through an MICR scanner, which captures the MICR information from the check. The MICR information is forwarded to the verification system for approval of the check for ECC. Once the check is approved for ECC, the purchaser's contact information is scanned from the face of the check by the optical scanner, and the digitized contact information is utilized along with other information from the transaction to create an ECC Agreement slip, which is printed on the high speed receipt printer. The agreement slip includes a signature line for the purchaser sign.

Abstract: A kiosk printer for unattended operation is equipped with a presenter to prevent a user from prematurely trying to remove a printed document. The presenter has motor driven feed rollers and a document sensor for determining when the printing document is in the presenter document path. The presenter has a home position adjacent to the printer document exit path. When printing starts, the document enters the presenter feed rollers and is sensed by a document sensor. A drive motor moves the presenter at the same rate as the printing document. When the presenter reaches a feed position it stops and the document sags and forms a document loop as printing continues. When printing stops, the presenter feed rollers feed the document from the kiosk to a user. When the printed document has exited the presenter, the presenter returns to the home position awaiting succeeding printed document.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for a drag and drop in a computer system. The method includes beginning a drag and drop on an object in a first workspace, suspending the drag and drop, activating a second workspace, and resuming the drag and drop in the second workspace. The method of the present invention provides a drag and drop for a multiple workspace environment. The drag and drop is performed in one multi-step operation. This simplifies the moving of objects between workspaces and provides a graphical operation.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing data in a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) subsystem is disclosed. The RAID subsystem includes a RAID controller having a cache and a plurality of disks. The method and system include utilizing the cache in a write back mode if the RAID subsystem is lightly loaded. In write back mode, the data is written to the cache prior to storing the data on at least one disk of the plurality of disks or prior to outputting the data from the RAID subsystem. The method and system also include utilizing the cache in a write through mode if the RAID subsystem is heavily loaded. In the write through mode, the data is written directly to at least one disk of the plurality of disks and, in a preferred embodiment, at the same time written to any cache buffer. Thus, data is written to the disks without the delay associated with managing a full cache when in write back mode required to flush an existing cache buffer to make a free buffer available.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a data processing system for automatically restoring an operating system on a local storage device. Prior to loading the operating system, a determination is made as to whether the operating system on the local storage device is corrupted in response to starting the data processing system. If the operating system is corrupted, the operating system is repaired using code from a source storage device without loading the operating system.

Abstract: A method and system for a kiosk to present a kiosk item, e.g., document, money, merchandise, credit card, to a customer. A determination may be made as to whether the customer is currently present via an infrared device configured to detect the presence of a customer. If the customer is not present, then the kiosk item, e.g., document, money, merchandise, credit card, may not be presented to the customer. By not presenting the kiosk item, security/privacy may be improved since the next customer would not be able to obtain the kiosk item that was never presented to an unavailable customer.

Abstract: A printed circuit board and method for reducing the impedance within the reference path and/or saving space within the printed circuit board. In one embodiment of the present invention, a printed circuit board comprises a plurality of conductive layers. The printed circuit board further comprises two or more vias for interconnecting two or more conductive layers. The printed circuit board further comprises an electrical component embedded in a particular via between two conductive layers to reduce the impedance within the reference path and/or save space within the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The disclosed method and system enables the acquisition and capture of consumer information at the time of purchase, such that a product's bar code (UPC) label and a consumer's response are concurrently read at the time of purchase, so as to obtain timely consumer information of high integrity. In one embodiment, a method is provided where the consumer may respond individually to inquiries on a plurality of products such that the consumer's responses are captured at the check-out counter at the time of purchase, and a resulting set of information containing responses to a plurality of specific products can be generated.

Abstract: A system and method for distribution of application program data to update a plurality of databases of dissimilar formats, including an application access program having a business object, a storage object and a data access object that is associated with a database. The business object creates data objects as needed and sends database access requests to the storage object. Each data access object registers with the storage object, and the storage object notifies each data access object when a data access request is received. The storage object then sends the data object to the data access objects. Data encapsulated in the data object is converted into a format for each database in which the data is to be stored. When a read request is received, data is read from a database that is designated as the primary database. When a write request is received, data is formatted into multiple formats and one format is written into each database.

Abstract: Provided is an universal Interface that is electrically coupled and physically embedded in a peripheral device. The universal Interface allows the peripheral device to be electrically coupled to a host computer having either a universal Serial Bus (USB) port or Legacy RS232 or RS485 ports, thus allowing a single product for different types of serial buses that are presently being sold within the market place.

Abstract: A voice processing system receives spoken input from a user, which is then subjected to speech recognition to convert the spoken input into a text equivalent. At least two information elements are identified in the text equivalent, each having an associated uncertainty. The system selects a prompt according to which information element has the greatest uncertainty, and this is then played out to the user. Typically the outgoing prompt is arranged to emphasise, via word order, volume, or some other mechanism, the information element in greatest doubt, thereby bringing it to the particular attention of the user, should correction be required.

Abstract: PXE Frame extension tags are used for remote boot loading client machines to afford servers deterministic ability for what image or utility the client requires based on its boot state. The invention takes advantage of the PXE frame by using the DHCP/PXE Vendor Tags for providing information to the PXE Server as to what image or boot process is required from the server by the client. This solution is targeted primarily, but not limited to, “media less” or “thin clients”. The invention provides the client an ability to give a DHCP/PXE server more deterministic information about itself. The server can use this information (i.e. information contained within the Extension tags) to determine more precisely the client machine's boot state DHCP/PXE server code parseses the DHCP/PXE extension tags (contained within the DHCP/PXE data frame) and uses the POST error information and/or the Vital Product Data (VPD) to provide the client with a tailored boot image.

Abstract: A system and method for isolating a computer system from entry of a personal identification number (PIN) to a smart card. The system and method includes a computer system that is in communication with an unsecure network to allow a user to engage in a purchase transaction. The system and method also includes a smart card reader in which a smart card is inserted and read. A secure personal-identification-number (PIN) entry device is coupled between the computer system and the smart card reader. The secure PIN entry device is used for entering a correct code for the PIN. Communication between computer system and secure PIN entry device is disconnected until the correct code for the PIN is entered at secure PIN entry device and sent to the smart card in order to authorize use of the smart card for the purchase transaction. In response to the correct code for the PIN being entered and sent to the smart card, communication between computer system and secure PIN entry device is established.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus capable of making a position of a pointer on a screen stand out and be prominent at appropriate timing for the user when the user uses a pointing device, such as a mouse. A color of an image within a first region on a screen and a color of an image within a second region, a size of which differs from the size of the first region, are alternately displayed by inverting the image data of the image within the region around a mouse cursor, during the simultaneous depression of a right button of the mouse and a shift key of a keyboard by the user.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cleaning device for casing components of electronic devices such as laptop computers, keyboards, monitors and such which are susceptible to dust. The device has a cuboidal block (10) made of a flexible material which on its underside, which is the surface of the block intended to contact the surface being cleaned, has a large number of incisions (14) which run crossways and form flexible fins (16) which can be deflected outward toward both sides. When the device is in use the fins spread and create slits (22) to collect dust. The incisions preferentially stretch over two thirds of the height of the block and run virtually parallel to its sides, so that the fins have a rectangular cross-section. The block is preferentially made of a soft foam.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which access files which are mirrored between at least a first storage device and a second storage device by determining if an access of the first storage device is by a process for mirroring files between the first storage device and the second storage device and assuming a privileged user level for the process for mirroring files so that the access to the first storage device is performed at the privileged user level if the access is by the process for mirroring files. By assuming a privileged user level, the process for mirroring files may have access to the files to mirror, preferably, irrespective of the permissions assigned to a file by the owner of a file.

Abstract: A system and method of the type for aiding a user in navigating a route through a facility so as too efficiently locate specific items within a facility is provided. The system includes a facility processor having a database and software stored thereon for mapping an interactive route from selected location to selected location within a facility, a label located proximate individual items, the label electronically communicating information specific to the item it is associated with, and a digital device having the interactive route electronically stored thereon, the digital device electronically communicating with the facility processor and the labels for tracking movement of the digital device along the route via communication with the labels and communicating a direction to move to follow the route.

Abstract: A method of queuing messages for communications between computer programs by placing a plurality of messages in a main queue, placing one or more property messages in one or more property queues associated with the main queue and, for each property message, specifying at least one property of a respective message in the main queue and a unique identifier for the respective message. A property name may be specified for a message, or a property value, or some combination of property names and values. An application program interface (API) makes the main queue and the one or more property queues appear as a single priority queue. A message is retrieved from the main queue according to a predefined priority list which includes the at least one property, which can again be a property name, a property value, or some combination of property names and values. The priority list can be dynamically modified.